Environment Agency - Home

Information on the hazardous waste regulations and end-of-life vehicles

The hazardous waste regulations apply to end-of-life vehicles and affect how they should be handled and dealt with when they are processed.

Consignment notes

All undepolluted end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) are classed as hazardous waste and must have a consignment note to be moved. The only exception to this is for private vehicles being taken directly from a household to an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF), or other site. The vehicle is still classed as hazardous waste but a consignment note is not required for this initial movement.

There is guidance on how to obtain, complete and use hazardous waste consignment notes on the hazardous waste section of our website:

You can also see an example of an consignment note for an end-of-life vehicle at the link below:

Premise registration

Any premise that handles over 500kg of hazardous waste in a 12 month period must be registered as a producer of hazardous waste. Undepolluted ELVs, as well as oil, car batteries, fluorescent tubes and any other hazardous waste from any source will count towards this threshold.

Premises can register online for £18.

Consignee returns to the Environment Agency

Where ATFs or other sites accept undepolluted ELVs they need to comply with all aspects of the hazardous waste regulations. This includes sending quarterly returns to us. All hazardous waste received by the ATF or site should be included on these returns except for private ELVs being delivered directly from a household.

Car scrappage scheme and the hazardous waste regulations

Vehicles accepted under the Government's scrappage scheme always become classed as waste when they enter the scheme. Participating dealerships should therefore register their premises and consign ELVs accordingly. ATFs receiving these vehicles must submit consignee returns to us.

Information and guidance

There is guidance on when a vehicle becomes waste in the following position statement: